In a bid to get some 200,000 women into the Saudi labor force, the Ministry of Labor is launching an ambitious registration and employment campaign during the next six months.

According to Arab News, unemployment among women was estimated at 21 percent. A recent study has indicated that some 92,000 women working in Riyadh represent only six percent of the total work force. The study showed that the greatest percentage of unemployed women workers - 97.6 percent - is in the 30-39 age group.

Some 200,000 unemployed women are inclined to benefit from the ministry’s campaign. Some of the jobs that have been identified for Saudization for women are receptionists, tailor-shop and wedding-hall employees, nutritionists, governesses, marketers, secretaries, photographers, beauticians, caterers, and hospitality and amusement park employees.

The newspaper said the employment campaign would be carried out in stages.

The upcoming move follows a similar campaign by the ministry to register unemployed Saudi men, which came out more than 180,000 less than the 300,000 figure issued by the General Statistics Department, according to Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi.